But I've noticed this week that my timing was perfect, so I'm letting you in on my little secret. Do, if possible, plan your next spring vacation about a week before everyone else in your office will be gone for spring break. I didn't plan mine that way on purpose, but I will certainly try to do so next year.

This week is apparently the one where most of my colleagues are out on vacations of their own. That means the phone isn't ringing as often, the halls are a little quieter, and not nearly as many people are asking me to do projects for them. I'm swamped enough that I'm turning down work anyway, but at least with folks out of the office and away (for the most part) from their computers, I am encountering that unpleasant scenario less often than I would otherwise be.